Vignette next to "White Foam" (Vignette bei "Weisser Schaum") (headpiece, folio 42, verso) from Klänge (Sounds)

Vignette next to "White Foam" (Vignette bei "Weisser Schaum") (headpiece, folio 42, verso) from Klänge (Sounds) is a defining abstract work created by Vasily Kandinsky in 1913. This piece is one of fifty-six woodcuts that comprise the artist's highly influential illustrated book, Klänge (Sounds). Published during a pivotal year for abstract art, the book combined Kandinsky's experimental poetry with corresponding graphic prints, creating a synesthetic experience central to his theories of the Gesamtkunstwerk, or total work of art.

The medium of the woodcut provided Kandinsky with a powerful tool for developing his early abstract vocabulary. Unlike traditional figurative uses of the medium, the high contrast and raw, angular edges inherent in the woodcut technique enhance the dynamic, non-representational composition seen in the Vignette next to "White Foam". Kandinsky’s graphic works from 1913 demonstrate his growing commitment to pure abstraction, using sharp line, shape, and rhythm to evoke spiritual or emotional states rather than depicting discernible objects. The title reference to "White Foam" hints at a connection between natural elements and pure expressive form, characteristic of his explorations into non-objectivity preceding World War I.

Although Kandinsky was Russian, the dissemination of Klänge and his involvement with influential European artistic movements, including the Blue Rider group, positioned this work firmly within the international avant-garde, resonating significantly with both German and French cultural circles. The 1913 publication solidified Kandinsky’s place as a pioneer, promoting the radical idea that visual art could function similarly to musical composition. Today, this key example of Modernist prints and the classification of the Illustrated Book are preserved within the comprehensive collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), ensuring scholarly access to this crucial document in the history of abstract painting.